Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao today met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and assured him of India's support to the process of resettlement and rehabilitation of Tamil civilians. In the first high-level contact between the two countries after the Presidential polls in the island nation in January, Mrs Rao congratulated Rajapaksa for his resounding victory.<br/>She expressed India's willingness to continue assisting Sri Lanka in the resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons. She said, India is also keen to assist in the complete restoration of the railway line in the North. <br/><br/>An official statement from the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo said, India is assisting Sri Lanka in relief and rehabilitation of the Tamil civilians and has already allocated 500 crore rupees for this purpose. New Delhi has also been nudging Colombo to quickly follow up the military victory with a political solution that satisfies the minority communities, especially Tamils.<br/><br/>Mrs Rao and Rajapaksa also discussed the problems being faced by fishermen of both the countries, besides other issues of bilateral interest. The President and Foreign Secretary also discussed the proposed coal powered power project in Trincomalee and the necessity for understanding between the two countries on the issues of protection of environment and eco-system.<br/><br/>About the political situation in Sri Lanka, Mrs Rao said the presence of more than 1,000 candidates in the forthcoming general election and the north and eastern provinces showed the enthusiasm of the people for the democratic process.<br/>